Pregnant Beggar Caught Driving Off in a Luxury Car

Melissa Smith from San Diego saw the same pregnant woman with her son in tow begging for money at a local shopping plaza every weekend. "I felt bad," Smith said of the woman, who always held a cardboard sign.

Melissa Smith from San Diego saw the same pregnant woman with her son in tow begging for money at a local shopping plaza every weekend. "I felt bad," Smith said of the woman, who always held a cardboard sign.

Smith's sympathy quickly dwindled when she ran into the same woman, her husband and their son while at a gas station. "They were leaving, and I noticed they went into a Mercedes Benz. I thought, 'Wow, a Mercedes Benz?'" said Smith. Making matters worse, she then saw them laughing as they counted cash in their car.

They resumed their panhandling shortly after at another plaza nearby, Smith noticed. She decided to catch them in the act this time and snapped photos of them and their luxury car's license plate. The beggar noticed she had been caught and threw a boulder (yes, a boulder) at Smith, which prompted a witness to call the authorities. The beggars sped off before the cops arrived.

Using Smith's photos, a San Diego local TV station tracked down the woman, who was far from homeless. Her address was listed in Encinitas Heights Apartments in Encinitas, CA. According to the building's website, the units "are the largest in Encinitas," and residents can enjoy a heated pool, spa, fitness center and more.

It seems the family won't be enjoying those perks anymore since they fled the apartment, as the TV reporter discovered in the video above. In the meantime, Smith hopes more people catch onto their scheme. "Don't give them money. They're driving a Benz."

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